Donald D. OLSON
December 01, 1926 to August 01, 2011
Donald D. (Don) Olson age 84 passed away on August 1st. Don was born on December 1st, 1926 to a pioneer family, Elmer and Elsie Olson, and lived his entire adult life within ½ mile of the family homestead in Key Center. Don’s whole childhood was spent helping on the farm, Sunnycrest Farms, which is still owned and operated by his sister, Joyce Niemann and her family. He attended grade school in Glencove and high school at Vaughn Union High School. Don graduated as valedictorian and played the trumpet. It is there that he met his wife of 64 years, Shirley Rickert Olson.
He also attended the University of Washington and then Montana State as an Air Force Cadet. After the war ended, he and Shirley were married and built their home in Key Center. Don made his living working in the woods in the early years as a logger, and then started his own heavy equipment construction company. His last 20 years of working, he ran road equipment for the Pierce County Road Crew, Purdy District. His life was busy raising four daughters. They shared great memories of camping and fishing on the Doseywallips River, the beach bonfires at Longbranch, and weekly trips to the Vaughn Library. Don was very involved in starting the volunteer fire department of the Key Peninsula and served as Chief from 1955-57. He also loved his garage filled with everything a person would need to build or fix anything. After retirement he enlarged his garden and soon became “Potato King of Key Center.” During those retirement years he and Shirley would take trips to visit their daughters and families in Idaho, Arizona, and California. His 6 grandchildren were very important to them both. There were also vacations in Hawaii and Europe along with great cruises in several places.
In addition to the fire department his volunteer life included The Key Peninsula Civic Center, a founding member of the Key Peninsula Lions, Gig Harbor Elks and Eagles, Twilight Dance Club, Key Stepper Square Dancers, and the Vaughn Community Church.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, brother Edmund Olson, and sister, Phyllis Anker, his dog & faithful companion, Smokey alias “Mayor of Key Center”. He is survived by his family, who will miss him very much, wife, Shirley Olson, daughters, Donna Summerhays of Tucson, AZ, Claudia (Dale) Loy of Key Center, Debby (Lance) Englund of Victor, WA, and Darcie Long of Lakebay, WA. Grandchildren, Kyle (Heather) Koehn, Amy (Ty) Shaver, Kara (Brian) McEvoy, Taryn (Brian) Neville, Bryan and Brandon Long. Great grandchildren, Kelsy, Emily, Dylan, Kacey, Avery, Isabella, Kaitlyn and Whitney. Also sisters, Joyce Niemann and Gail Sparks and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A graveside service was held August 4th at the Vaughn Cemetery where he was laid to rest next to his parents. The community of family and friends are invited to join in a celebration of his life on August 13th. It will be held at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn at 2:00 PM. The family wants to thank the staff at St Anthony’s for giving our Dad such great love and care during his final week, and Dr. Roes for the many years of his care, and all other health care workers who helped Don over the years. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the following organizations: The Mustard Seed Project, Key Peninsula Civic Center, and the Key Peninsula Lions.
